Ser Leftwich

There is no reason to assume that it was Rhaegar's intention to name his children after the Conquerors. Therefore, it doesn't matter.

Changed my mind.

Do we know what season it was during the Defiance of Duskendale?

There is likely some cost to the greenseers. The further back/more accurately they can see, the less mobile they are. Or another way of putting it, the more powerful the magic, the more dependent they are on being one with the tree. To quote another famous story, I would venture that, "Difficult to see. Always in motion, the future is," is the case in ASOIAF, as well. So even if greenseers can see the future, it would be either fleeting or they themselves are so far gone into the trees that they can't convey those visions to the living, except through dreams/magic. Magic is costly in ASOIAF, so the more accurate/powerful, the greater the cost.

Jon was concern was twofold: 1) about saving lives, his motive coming from the Night's Watch vows, "the shield that guards the realms of men, " and 2) More people alive, fewer zombles.

In Yandel's world, squires are not people.

How often (in your own head when you read a post) do you ask?: "Has this person read the books?"

Maelys the Monstrous seems like someone who would have filed teeth, but that is just a guess.

Did Maekar, as Prince of Summerhall, have dominion, lands, and incomes that went along with it or did he just get a stipend from the Crown? Did he have petty lords below him that were his vassals or not? Or, did he just have a household of his own, paid for by the crown?

There are at least two theories: 1) Ethan gave information to Ned about Rhaegar's character and/or Brandon's knowledge/information; 2) Ethan was given information about Lyanna from Rhaegar, which was then conveyed to Ned. There may be more, but I am not recalling them (had a drink or seven).

We don't know but the speculations include: 1) he was a squire (so leniency) 2) plot wise it was necessary for him to have been in King's Landing (between his capture and the Sack) for Ned to then find him.

I would really like to know what Jon Arryn's opinion of Rhaegar was.

All this is assuming a lot, 1)when would he have usurped Aerys? 2) why would he not have pursued Lyanna? 3) why would Rhaegar take another wife when he would have been 40-45, with children the age of Dany? Maybe in this timeline Willas was not injured in the joust with Oberyn, so he would have been a good match for Cersei. All so much "what ifs" that are not worth actually pursuing.

I think I read that Wales was an influence, as well as Spain during the Convivencia, but I do not recall where I read it.

Worked fine for me just now.

There doesn't need to be a point, story-wise. Not everything is Chekhov's Broken Chair Leg. Sometimes it just happens.

Has there been a good explanation of the wibbly-wobbly time event that happened in the Sorrows?

They might, but we don't know because we haven't heard their opinion of the Lannisters. Just because Davos was born in Flea Bottom doesn't mean he or his family still lived in King's Landing at the time of the Sack. We don't know if any of Davos's sons were with him delivering onions.

At the start of the Robellion, Jon and Robert suppress the rebel Vale Lords and take Gulltown, while Ned takes the long way through the Sisters and White Harbor. Do we know it Ned contacted anyone in the North via raven before he left the Vale?

Varys knew that the headman's ax was always hovering over his neck, (and even says things to the effect in the books), so he must have made himself useful enough to the new regime. Since Robert was not all that interested in ruling, Jon Arryn's opinion of Varys may have gone a long way and it may have even been Jon's decision to pardon Varys. We also don't know what other help Varys provided in terms of betraying others to the new regime. Looking at the list of people who have served as Master of Whisperers, almost all are foreigners, cripples, eunuchs, and/or bastards. Not a group of people held in high regard, so for nobles, they may think that dirty work, like spying, is for those beneath them.

Do we know who knighted Rhaegar? (I don't have the books on hand.)

He was reportedly a bit of a womanizer, so maybe "roll in the hay?"

@Ran Is House Errol a homage to Errol Flynn? Seems like GRRM is of an age that he would have watched Flynn's swashbuckling movies as a kid.

Is House Errol a homage to Errol Flynn? Seems like GRRM is of an age that he would have watched Flynn's swashbuckling movies as a kid.

What about Val? Is she every described as tall?